Aster intercepts

23 April, 1997

SOURCE: Flight International

The Franco-Italian Aster 15 air-defence missile has been successfully tested intercepting a simulated sea-skimming missile flying at 30ft (10m ) above the waves, following a vertical launch from a shore-based naval launcher. The Aster 15 intercepted the C22 target 7km (4nm) from the firing point, following a 10s supersonic flight. The 8 April test is the first such interception carried out by an Aster, and paves the way for introduction in 2000 of what will be Europe's first surface-to-air missile equipped with an active-radar homing head when it is supplied for French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. Aerospatiale says that the test applies also to the 80km-range Aster 30 , which has the same guidance system and warhead.